Kite Runner CH 1-9

SAT Vocabulary:

harelipped- a congenitally deformed lip, usually the upper one, in which there is a vertical fissure causing it to resemble the cleft lip of a hare.
affluent-having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous; rich: an affluent person.
sloughing- to dispose or get rid of; cast (often fol. by off): to slough off a bad habit.
immersed- plunged or sunk in or as if in a liquid
murky- dark, gloomy, and cheerless.
scuffle-a rough, confused struggle or fight.
thwart-to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose.
awestruck- Full of awe.
maneuver- a planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.
milling- an act or instance of subjecting something to the operation of a mill.



Connections:
While reading Kite Runner, I thought of my brother Tom, his experiences in Iraq and how they related to Amir and Hassans encounter with strange soldiers. Tom is a marine who was stationed in Iraq and upon his return home, he didn't want to talk about much about anything that happened. He had seen a lot and he didn't seem to feel very comfortable about the subject (which made me think of how the soldiers treated Hassan and if my brother had friends with the same attitude). However, he did mention the young Iraqi children and how they flocked to his platoon with smiles and curiosity. This reminded me of Amir and Hassan and how they approached the soldiers' military barracks. Although they were forbidden to take the short cut, they didn't seem to have any worries about the soldiers just as the children my brother met. I found it odd because if my country was full of foreign soldiers I would be a little weary of them because I wouldn't know what to expect.



Afghani Culture:

I learned there are two different kninds of Iranis, Hazaras and Pashtuns. The Hazaras are like untouchables, they are supposed to have mongoloid features and are lower class and shunned by the Pashtuns. According to an old history book Amir found, the Pashtuns killed the Hazaras and and drove them from their lands.
The picture I choose shows Iranis protesting the killing of Hazaras and the corrupt government.